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S1249 STR Statement 5/11/26
SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
SENATE, No.
1249
with
committee amendments
STATE
OF NEW JERSEY
DATED:
�MAY 11,
2026
����� The Senate Transportation Committee reports favorably
and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 1249.
����� As amended and reported, this bill requires an applicant
seeking to be a transportation network company (TNC) driver to provide, as part
of the application process: �(1) a list of any TNC for which the applicant has
ever served as a TNC driver; (2) a written statement regarding whether the
applicant has been the subject of a substantiated sexual misconduct
investigation for a covered incident in connection with the applicant�s work as
a TNC driver or has ever been disciplined or banned from accessing a digital
network by a TNC in relation to a covered incident; and (3) a written
authorization that consents to and authorizes the disclosure of information and
release of related records by any other TNC, releasing such TNCs from liability
that may arise from such disclosure or release of records.� The bill authorizes
a TNC to ban drivers from accessing a TNC�s digital network if the driver is
the subject of an ongoing investigation into sexual misconduct allegations for
a covered incident arising out of the driver�s work as a TNC driver or if an
investigation has been completed and has resulted in a finding that the driver
engaged in sexual misconduct for a covered incident connected to the driver�s
role as a TNC driver.� If the investigation results in inconclusive findings or
in a finding that the allegations were false or the allegations are not
substantiated, the TNC is authorized to consider the totality of the circumstances
and to prohibit the driver from utilizing the TNC�s digital network,
notwithstanding the results of the investigation.
����� A TNC that receives an allegation of a driver�s sexual
misconduct for a covered incident is required to notify each registered TNC in
the State of the allegation, the status of any investigation into the
allegation, and the ultimate results or findings of the investigation.� If the
TNC becomes aware of a criminal investigation regarding the allegations, the
TNC is required to notify each registered TNC of the criminal investigation.
����� This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the
2026-2027 session pending technical review.� As reported, the bill includes the
changes required by technical review, which has been performed.
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:
����� The committee amended the bill to:�
����� (1)� define �covered incident� and �in connection with
a digital network�;
����� (2)� revise the definitions of �personal vehicle� and
�sexual misconduct�;
����� (3)� remove a provision prohibiting the Attorney
General from approving a criminal background check conducted by a TNC unless
the background check included a mechanism by which the TNC receives timely
notice when any individual who the company allows to log on to the TNC�s
digital network as a TNC driver or to provide a prearranged ride as a TNC
driver is arrested for or convicted of a crime or offense in this State after
the initial criminal background check of the individual has been conducted;
����� (4)� limit the scope of the bill to covered incidents
of sexual misconduct that occurred during a ride facilitated by the TNC or up
to 48 hours after the completion of the prearranged ride for which covered
incident the TNC driver was prohibited by the TNC from utilizing the TNC�s
digital network; and
����� (5)� remove a provision exempting an applicant from
submitting a written statement if the applicant was subject to a sexual
misconduct investigation that resulted in a finding that the allegations were
false or not substantiated and, instead, add a provision explicitly requiring
an applicant to submit a written statement for any substantiated sexual
misconduct investigations.